32 TIN DEPOSITS OF THE YORK REGION, ALASKA. [no. 229. 
the gravels systematically and found that they contain about 8 pounds 
of 60 per cent ore to the cubic } r ard. The value per yard on this basis, 
with tin at 28 cents per pound, would be $1.34, out of which charges 
for shipping and treatment would have to be paid. 
Mr. Hess saw pannings made at a number of places along Buck 
Creek, but not enough to test thoroughly the richness of the gravels. 
The best that were seen came from immediate^ above the mouth of 
Sutter Creek, where a drain ditch from 2 to 2i feet deep was under 
construction. Seven pans taken from various parts of the gravel 
thrown out of this ditch gave about 1 pound 6 ounces of concentrates. 
Estimating 20 pounds of gravel to the pan, this would give approxi- 
mately 27 pounds of, say, 60 per cent ore to the cubic yard of gravel. 
Bed rock was here 5i feet below the surface, and the gravel approxi- 
mately 100 feet wide. A few good colors of gold w T ere found in the 
concentrates. At this point there seemed to be no difference in the 
distribution of the tin ore through the gravels below the surface. It 
seemed from the evidence of prospectors that this uniform distribu- 
tion through the gravels prevailed generally along the creek, though 
at one place it was found to be richer on bed rock. 
It is reported that cassiterite lias been found in a bench near the 
upper forks of Buck Creek, but no definite data were obtained con- 
cerning the nature of the occurrence. 
On Grouse Creek, below the mouth of Buck, the amount of tin ore 
is reported to l>e very small, and while Mr. Hess found no evidence of 
prospecting in this section, and is of the opinion that practically none 
has been done there, the gravel deposits are more extensive than those 
on Buck Creek and seem to be worthy of attention. No large amounts 
of cassiterite have been reported from either Gold Creek, a tributary 
of Grouse above Buck, or from Sutter Creek, the large southern trib- 
utary of Buck, nor has much gold been found there. 
To summarize the evidence with regard to the Buck Creek region, 
tin ore has been found in the gravels of the creek from its mouth to 
within 1 mile of its head. The pay streak appears to be confined to 
the present stream-bed and flood-plain deposits. In the present creek 
bed the ore is found from the surface to the bottom of the gravels. 
Outside the creek bed, in the flood plain, there is a covering of moss 
and muck above the pay gravel. No cassiterite is known to have been 
found on the hillsides surrounding Buck Creek or on the plateau 
surface in which Buck Creek Valley is incised, though such an occur- 
rence is to be expected. The known pay streak varies in width 
from 10 to 150 feet, and in thickness from a few inches to 5 feet. 
Estimates of the amount of tin ore in the gravels vary from 8 to 27 
pounds per cubic yard, but very few comprehensive tests have been 
made. 
At the time of Mr. Hess's visit to Buck Creek, near the end of 
